LonestaRG-21 Programs
Concert & Talk by Dan Johnson "Change the World with your Gifts and Passion!"
This inspirational and unforgettable presentation of live music concert and storytelling has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered" and has changed and even saved the lives of thousands of people around the world. Mensan Dan Johnson shares his powerful live music performance and unique storytelling ability in this heartfelt and uplifting show. Use your gifts to help others and live a life of passion, through this motivational and deeply personal experience.
Mensan Dan Johnson is a singer-songwriter, author, speaker, and narrator. His latest album "Hemingway" has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered," Cowboys and Indians Magazine, Galleywinter, Texas Music Pickers, Twangville, Folking, The Dallas Morning News and countless news outlets around the US and Europe. The groundbreaking concept album is a true storyteller's endeavor and is accompanied by a companion book of short stories, co-written by Johnson and novelist Travis Erwin. The book of stories delves deep into the characters from the album’s songs, illuminating the ways they have crossed paths and touched each other's lives across time. All proceeds go to preventing veteran suicide. The Hemingway tour educates civilians on their easy but vital role in spotting warning signs and getting help and healing to their veteran friends and family. It is dedicated to Dan's father, a veteran who took his life when Dan was ten years old. Dan's unique style of blending music with heartfelt, inspiring, and humorous stories comes from his upbringing on a homestead farm in Kentucky, where his family of 14 played music and told stories for entertainment each night, in the old Appalachian tradition. Dan currently lives in Fort Worth but spends most of his time bringing his music and stories to fans across the US and 20 countries around the world so far. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, culinary arts, wilderness survival, and cowboying for his rancher friends.
This inspirational and unforgettable presentation of live music concert and storytelling has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered" and has changed and even saved the lives of thousands of people around the world. Mensan Dan Johnson shares his powerful live music performance and unique storytelling ability in this heartfelt and uplifting show. Use your gifts to help others and live a life of passion, through this motivational and deeply personal experience.
Mensan Dan Johnson is a singer-songwriter, author, speaker, and narrator. His latest album "Hemingway" has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered," Cowboys and Indians Magazine, Galleywinter, Texas Music Pickers, Twangville, Folking, The Dallas Morning News and countless news outlets around the US and Europe. The groundbreaking concept album is a true storyteller's endeavor and is accompanied by a companion book of short stories, co-written by Johnson and novelist Travis Erwin. The book of stories delves deep into the characters from the album’s songs, illuminating the ways they have crossed paths and touched each other's lives across time. All proceeds go to preventing veteran suicide. The Hemingway tour educates civilians on their easy but vital role in spotting warning signs and getting help and healing to their veteran friends and family. It is dedicated to Dan's father, a veteran who took his life when Dan was ten years old. Dan's unique style of blending music with heartfelt, inspiring, and humorous stories comes from his upbringing on a homestead farm in Kentucky, where his family of 14 played music and told stories for entertainment each night, in the old Appalachian tradition. Dan currently lives in Fort Worth but spends most of his time bringing his music and stories to fans across the US and 20 countries around the world so far. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, culinary arts, wilderness survival, and cowboying for his rancher friends.
Gun Violence and Gun Policy
with Matt Valentine Matt Valentine teaches writing at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is a Fellow of the Trice Lecturer in the Plan II Honors Program. His terminal degree is a Master of Fine Arts from New York University. As a journalist, he has recently published several analytical features (including cover stories) on gun violence and gun policy for Politico Magazine, as well as The Atlantic, The Trace and the Washington Post. He has appeared on MSNBC, CBS Radio, NPR and other media outlets as an expert commentator on gun violence and gun policy. With his colleague Patricia Smith, Matt is co-editing a volume on campus carry that will be published in 2020 by Harvard Education Press. 
The Opioid Crisis
with Dr. Andre Chen Dr. Chen is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine. He practices Addiction Medicine at a large multi-specialty Pain Management practice. His focus is the treatment of patients who have co-occurring chronic pain and substance/medication use disorders. 
Civic Engagement Nothing to Hide, Yet Everything to Fear: Privacy in the Digital Age.
with Kevin Welch Most of us are aware on some level that we are constantly being spied on online, with our every action, our every click, our every conversation and preference being added to some ever-growing dossier on us in a corporate or government computer. Corporations often defend their actions and downplay the privacy risks by saying that they only collect the data to provide us with better services, that this surveillance is the price that we pay for these free services, and that most of the data collected is anonymized before it is sold, so nothing is being personally tied to anyone. In this talk, Kevin Welch will take a look at some of these claims and show that even seemingly harmless, benign data collection practices can lead to serious risks both for the freedom of the individual and the freedom of society at large. Kevin Welch is the president of EFF-Austin, a digital civil liberties organization that was founded alongside Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and which continues to be a member of their Electronic Frontier Alliance (EFA). At EFF-Austin, he leads their push to educate the public and politicians about important legal and cultural issues confronting society in emerging technological spaces. He is a Caltech graduate with degrees in Bioengineering and English. The focus of his studies involved implementing chemical computers via DNA logic gates and circuits and a senior thesis on Tech Noir films. His professional career has consisted of a number of software-related positions ranging from programming the math in slot machine games for the company Everi to full-stack web programming of advanced word-processing/legal software for the Texas Legislative Council. Currently, he is employed as a software engineer for Civitech, an Austin-based startup working to provide software and big-data solutions for small-and-mid-sized progressive political campaigns. He is an Austin native, an activist, a hacker, a cyberpunk, a writer of science fiction, mythology, and poetry, an analog synthesizer enthusiast, as well as an indie video game developer. He believes the future doesn’t have to suck, and can even be fun. Mezcal Tasting
with Buddy Taste several different varieties of Mezcal. Tickets are $40, available at registration, and must be purchased in advance. Only a limited number are available. 
Honey Tasting
with McCartney Taylor Tickets are $10, available at registration, and must be purchased in advance. A collection of 20 of the best honeys from around the world, including the most expensive honey on earth, honey referenced by Pliny the Elder 2000 years ago, and honey from Texas. From light and floral to bitter & wonderfully wicked. This ain't your mothers' honeys. McCartney Taylor is a well traveled beekeeper and collects honey from around the world. His main occupation is annoying his wife. 
Civic Engagement and Voter Registration Laws
with Bruce Elfant As Tax Assessor-Collector, Bruce is working to save tax dollars by encouraging residents to pay property taxes and vehicle registrations online. He piloted the first E-Title program in Texas and as voter registrar he has trained and deputized thousands of volunteer deputy registrars. During his tenure, online payments increased twelve-fold, property tax collections are among the highest in Texas and Travis County is the most registered urban county in Texas. Elfant is a staunch advocate for a fairer property tax system and allowing Texans to be able to join with the 40 other states that allow their citizens to register to vote online. Bruce has served on many committees and boards, including chair of the Austin State Hospital Public Responsibility Committee, Co-chair for the Austin/Travis County Family Violence Task Force and Community Action Network, Community Council, U. S. Census Complete Count Committee (2010 and 2020), Travis County Veterans Intervention Program and Tax Assessor-Collectors Legislative Committee. Bruce also served as a board member and vice president for the Texas Association of Counties. Bruce has won numerous awards for his civic and community service including Person of the Year, and Texas Constable and Tax Assessor-Collector of the Year. |
Woman's Storybook Project of Texas
With Jill Gonzalez M. Ed.
Jill Gonzalez is the Executive Director of Women's Storybook Project of Texas. She is completing her first year at WSP and prior to it was the associate director at BookSpring in Austin, TX. A lifelong advocate for family and early literacy, Jill began her career as a classroom teacher and then became a Reading Specialist. She earned her Master Reading Teacher certification at U.T. Austin. In 2008 she made the transition to nonprofit leadership and enjoys providing programming and advocating for family literacy from the earliest possible point. She believes that all parents make a difference in their child's personal growth and academic lives by reading aloud to them.
Storybook Project of Texas builds relationships between mothers behind bars and their children on the outside. Volunteers record the mothers reading books to their children. The others also include a short message. The children receive a copy of the recording and a new book each month. Since 2003, WSP has added prisons and mothers to its program. In 2018, nine prisons and over 2,500 women are participating.
With Jill Gonzalez M. Ed.
Jill Gonzalez is the Executive Director of Women's Storybook Project of Texas. She is completing her first year at WSP and prior to it was the associate director at BookSpring in Austin, TX. A lifelong advocate for family and early literacy, Jill began her career as a classroom teacher and then became a Reading Specialist. She earned her Master Reading Teacher certification at U.T. Austin. In 2008 she made the transition to nonprofit leadership and enjoys providing programming and advocating for family literacy from the earliest possible point. She believes that all parents make a difference in their child's personal growth and academic lives by reading aloud to them.
Storybook Project of Texas builds relationships between mothers behind bars and their children on the outside. Volunteers record the mothers reading books to their children. The others also include a short message. The children receive a copy of the recording and a new book each month. Since 2003, WSP has added prisons and mothers to its program. In 2018, nine prisons and over 2,500 women are participating.
Youth Program Track
With Amber Gabriel
On Saturday August 31st LonestaRG will have youth programs from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Check the registration page for details on youth registration. There is no membership requirement for LonestaRG.
There will be a breakout box, STEM activities, robot building and slime!
With Amber Gabriel
On Saturday August 31st LonestaRG will have youth programs from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Check the registration page for details on youth registration. There is no membership requirement for LonestaRG.
There will be a breakout box, STEM activities, robot building and slime!
An Archaeology of Atlantis: Plato’s Dialogues, Minoan Culture, and New Analytical Approaches
with Chris Kilgore
In Plato’s dialogues, Atlantis is described as a circular island comprised of concentric zones of earth and water. Home to an advanced trading culture, Atlantis supposedly exploded and sank into the ocean in a single day. Many modern archaeologists interpret Plato’s tale as an oral tradition describing Minoan culture, a Mediterranean civilization which suffered a catastrophic volcanic explosion around 1,600 BC. Chris Kilgore will review the Platonic dialogues and detail recent archaeological insights into Minoan culture. Chris will also share new literary and iconographic parallels between ancient sources and modern cultures. Together, these suggest that cultural vestiges of “Atlantis” have survived to this day through transmission via the Minoan diaspora.
Chris Kilgore, Mr. Mensa 2018, is a cognitive archaeologist, art historian, and raconteur based in Houston. He has spoken at numerous RGs and AGs and has presented his original research at museums and universities in the United States, France, Britain, Spain, and Belgium. He is a featured lecturer in the École Doctorale of France's Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, the world's oldest natural history museum. Chris received his MA in Art History from the University of Houston, where he was Art History Writing Fellow.
with Chris Kilgore
In Plato’s dialogues, Atlantis is described as a circular island comprised of concentric zones of earth and water. Home to an advanced trading culture, Atlantis supposedly exploded and sank into the ocean in a single day. Many modern archaeologists interpret Plato’s tale as an oral tradition describing Minoan culture, a Mediterranean civilization which suffered a catastrophic volcanic explosion around 1,600 BC. Chris Kilgore will review the Platonic dialogues and detail recent archaeological insights into Minoan culture. Chris will also share new literary and iconographic parallels between ancient sources and modern cultures. Together, these suggest that cultural vestiges of “Atlantis” have survived to this day through transmission via the Minoan diaspora.
Chris Kilgore, Mr. Mensa 2018, is a cognitive archaeologist, art historian, and raconteur based in Houston. He has spoken at numerous RGs and AGs and has presented his original research at museums and universities in the United States, France, Britain, Spain, and Belgium. He is a featured lecturer in the École Doctorale of France's Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, the world's oldest natural history museum. Chris received his MA in Art History from the University of Houston, where he was Art History Writing Fellow.
Casino Night
Saturday night is Casino Night! Join us in the Viva Las Vegas Casino! After dinner in the ballroom, we will break out the games: Tables for Blackjack, Texas Hold’em, Roulette, and Craps. We will have additional tables for other games and puzzles, along with music,
a dance floor, and cheesy decor. Feel free to wear your best vintage Vegas casino outfit (we really NEED an Elvis!) or just come as you are.
LonestaRG is offering special Casino Night only tickets for $35 per person, half-price for children 9-20, and kids 8 and under are free. Admission is from 6pm until midnight, Saturday, August 31st.
Saturday night is Casino Night! Join us in the Viva Las Vegas Casino! After dinner in the ballroom, we will break out the games: Tables for Blackjack, Texas Hold’em, Roulette, and Craps. We will have additional tables for other games and puzzles, along with music,
a dance floor, and cheesy decor. Feel free to wear your best vintage Vegas casino outfit (we really NEED an Elvis!) or just come as you are.
LonestaRG is offering special Casino Night only tickets for $35 per person, half-price for children 9-20, and kids 8 and under are free. Admission is from 6pm until midnight, Saturday, August 31st.
CosPlay
with Sal Silinonte AKA caveman c0splay
Sal will tell us about costume making, attending cons, volunteer opportunities for cosplayers and how to enjoy a hobby you can share with your family. Here are his social media links: Facebook, Instagram.
with Sal Silinonte AKA caveman c0splay
Sal will tell us about costume making, attending cons, volunteer opportunities for cosplayers and how to enjoy a hobby you can share with your family. Here are his social media links: Facebook, Instagram.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Find yourself trapped alone in a room with a ticking time bomb. Your friends have the manual to defuse it, but they can't see the bomb, so you're going to have to talk it out – fast!
Find yourself trapped alone in a room with a ticking time bomb. Your friends have the manual to defuse it, but they can't see the bomb, so you're going to have to talk it out – fast!
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Wizards Unite
with Sara Sharpe Are you playing Niantic's new virtual reality game? Would you just like to see it? Come hear Sara explain the game. Now is your chance to ask questions, discuss which profession is best to pursue, how to improve your spell casts, when and where to use dark detectors, plus potions, portkeys, runestones, fortresses, and greenhouses! |
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Jam Session
Do you play an instrument? Are you bringing it to the RG? We know a few folks are so we are scheduling a jam session. Play, sing, or just listen.
Do you play an instrument? Are you bringing it to the RG? We know a few folks are so we are scheduling a jam session. Play, sing, or just listen.
Mensa Admission Test Session
The Mensa Admission Test and the Culture Fair Test will be offered at this testing session. All test takers will be invited to attend for the day as guests of Lone Star Mensa.
Pre-register for the test by email: testing@lsm.us.mensa.org Walk-ins are welcome.
Bring a valid photo ID and your method of payment the testing fee is $60. We accept credit cards, cash, checks, and prepaid vouchers (available for purchase at American Mensa's website). Valid forms of ID include Driver's Licenses, Student IDs, state IDs, and Passports.
The Mensa Admission Test and the Culture Fair Test will be offered at this testing session. All test takers will be invited to attend for the day as guests of Lone Star Mensa.
Pre-register for the test by email: testing@lsm.us.mensa.org Walk-ins are welcome.
Bring a valid photo ID and your method of payment the testing fee is $60. We accept credit cards, cash, checks, and prepaid vouchers (available for purchase at American Mensa's website). Valid forms of ID include Driver's Licenses, Student IDs, state IDs, and Passports.
Scholarship Benefit Bag Raffle and Silent Auction
We will be having a bag raffle and silent auction to benefit the scholarship fund. Everyone will start out with a ticket; you can get more for volunteering and as prizes, and you can also buy more (which is where you're helping the scholarship fund). Drop your tickets into the bag for the prize you are hoping to win. A few choice items will be put up for silent auction.
We will be having a bag raffle and silent auction to benefit the scholarship fund. Everyone will start out with a ticket; you can get more for volunteering and as prizes, and you can also buy more (which is where you're helping the scholarship fund). Drop your tickets into the bag for the prize you are hoping to win. A few choice items will be put up for silent auction.
Scholarship Benefit Wine Tastings
with Doug Williams
We are planning three tasting sessions, reds, whites, and wines that pair with Italian food. Each will feature 6-8 varieties of wine or so. Wine crackers, pretzel sticks, and bottled water will be provided. Depending upon how many wines you plan to sample, a donation of $15-20 to the scholarship fund would be appreciated.
with Doug Williams
We are planning three tasting sessions, reds, whites, and wines that pair with Italian food. Each will feature 6-8 varieties of wine or so. Wine crackers, pretzel sticks, and bottled water will be provided. Depending upon how many wines you plan to sample, a donation of $15-20 to the scholarship fund would be appreciated.
Button Making
with Leslie Comix
Join host Leslie Comix for a chance to make your own buttons (or magnets) with our materials and your designs (or ours). Buttons are 2 1/4” with about a 2” circular design, so bring things or chose from a number of materials.
with Leslie Comix
Join host Leslie Comix for a chance to make your own buttons (or magnets) with our materials and your designs (or ours). Buttons are 2 1/4” with about a 2” circular design, so bring things or chose from a number of materials.
Ticket to Ride Tournament
with Andy York
First round will be up to three boards of five on the original Ticket to Ride map. Winner of each board will move on to the second round to determine the winner on another board (if fewer than three boards are played in the first round, top three scoring players will move on). Winner to receive extra tickets for the raffle. If you don't know how to play the game, ask me earlier in the weekend to show it to you.
with Andy York
First round will be up to three boards of five on the original Ticket to Ride map. Winner of each board will move on to the second round to determine the winner on another board (if fewer than three boards are played in the first round, top three scoring players will move on). Winner to receive extra tickets for the raffle. If you don't know how to play the game, ask me earlier in the weekend to show it to you.
Carnelli
A Mensan made parlor game of titles. HERE is a PDF of Carnelli Rules for newbies! (Print your own or we will guide you along!)
A Mensan made parlor game of titles. HERE is a PDF of Carnelli Rules for newbies! (Print your own or we will guide you along!)
Battledecks!
You played it here first - and we are playing it again. A new favorite! Battledecks aka PowerPoint Karaoke is a game where players make a short speech using powerpoint slides which they have never seen before. It can be hilarious to do and hilarious to watch. We'll prepare some slide decks and speech topics beforehand but you won't know what they are until you begin!
You played it here first - and we are playing it again. A new favorite! Battledecks aka PowerPoint Karaoke is a game where players make a short speech using powerpoint slides which they have never seen before. It can be hilarious to do and hilarious to watch. We'll prepare some slide decks and speech topics beforehand but you won't know what they are until you begin!
Name That Movie
with John and Geri Neemidge
A LonestaRG favorite, Name That Movie consists of clips (about a minute each) from around 40 movies. Clips are selected to fit into one or more themes. You name the movies and the themes. You can participate individually or in teams. Clips are PG or less regardless of the original movie, and we try to make the clips themselves interesting, so you can enjoy it even if you don't know movies well enough to do well on the game.
with John and Geri Neemidge
A LonestaRG favorite, Name That Movie consists of clips (about a minute each) from around 40 movies. Clips are selected to fit into one or more themes. You name the movies and the themes. You can participate individually or in teams. Clips are PG or less regardless of the original movie, and we try to make the clips themselves interesting, so you can enjoy it even if you don't know movies well enough to do well on the game.
Games, Games, Games!
We have several Mind Games winners and perennial favorites which will be available all weekend for your gaming pleasure.
We have several Mind Games winners and perennial favorites which will be available all weekend for your gaming pleasure.